Rolling-mill



(NoMoael.) z'sheets-sheen 1l. J. A. POTTER. ROLLING MILL.

No. 477,821. Patented June 28, 1-892.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. A. POTTER.

ROLLING MIL-L.

Patented June 28,1892;

l INVENTOR f2. @ma

A heavy strain.

UNITED .STATES- PATENTy OFFICE.

JOHN A. POTTER, OF MUNI-IALL, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROLLING-M I LL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,821, dated June 28, 1892.

Application filed April 13, 1891.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN A. POTTER, of Mu nhall, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rolling-Mills, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specilication, in which- Figure lis a front elevation of my improved rolling-mill, the housing being shown in vertical section on the line I I of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is an end view 0f the rolling-mill.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each. Y

The object of my invention is to provide a rolling mill adapted especially to rolling heavy metal plates, such as armor-plates. f The work put upon suoli rolls is of such character that when mills of ordinary construction are employed the rolls mustbe iliade .of inconvenient size and weight in order to preventbreaking and excessive springing under the In my improved mill I am enabled to use rolls of comparatively small diameter for effecting the work of reduction. Thus I not only simplify and cheapen the cost of construction of the mill, but also improve its working materially. In practical use working rolls of small diameter havel a better -effect on the metal than larger rolls in that their compressing action extends to a greater degree to the center of the piece, and that the metal is thus more thoroughly wrought. These results I etfect by employing, in combination with the two working rolls, outer supporting-rolls and by coupling the driving mechanism to the working rolls, so that the power shall be applied directly' to them and not to the supporting-rolls.

\ I am aware that the use of supporting-rolls for backing the working rolls and driving them by friction is not new, and this I do not claim.

By applying the power to the working rolls the mill performs better work, acts with uniformity, and produces a regular and straight metal plate. This is not so where the supporting-rolls also drive the others frictionally.

Referring now to the drawings, 2 2 represent serial No. 388.704. ci@ model.)

the roll-housings, made of strong met-al castings, as shown.

n 3 4 are the Working rolls, having-bearings 5 6 at their necks. The lower roll 4: rests upon a supporting-roll 7,Which is journaled in bearings 8, set at the base of the windows ofthe housings. The bearings 5 of the roll 3 are supported by vertical rods 9, extending from hydraulic cylinders or other suitable counterweighting mechanism, and above said roll and bearing thereon is a roll 10, having bearings 1l on the upper sides of the necks, against which fit the usual blocks l2 at the ends of the adj listing-screws 13, which pass through nuts in the housing-caps, and are actuated by suitable gearing 14. The construction of this gearing is unnecessary to be described, since it does not form a part of myinvention. The rolls 7 and 10 are of somewhat larger diameter than are the rolls 3 and It. The larger rollsy I term the supporting-rolls, because of their functions of backing and supporting the working rolls. The latter rolls are connected by usual coupling-boxes l5 with spindles 16 17, which extend to pinions (not shown) by which the power to rotate therolls is supplied. The spindle 16 has a wabbler connectionyith its coupling-box, so that the roll 3 may be driven in any position in which it may be adj ustefvertically.

In the operation of tle"`rolls the metal to be reduced is passed back and fdrthgbetween the rolls 3 and 4, which are reversed atealpass in the manner usual in reversing-mills, an?? 3 and 4 are perfectly backed and supported along their entire length, and are thus prevented from being broken or strained and are loo During the action lof the mill the rolls after each pass the distance between the rolls 85;"

held to their work, so that they shall not spring or yield under the heavy strain. The actual reduction is performed by the rolls 3 and et, and as these are the driven rolls of the mill their Work is performed uniformly and the metal is rolled into an even and straight product.

Without limiting myself precisely to the described details of construction of the several parts, I claiml. In a rolling-mill, the combination of two horizontal Working rolls, one of which is vertically adjustable, mechanism by Which said rolls are directly rotated, and supporting-rolls of larger diameter situate on the'outer sides of the working rolls, bearing frictionally In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 1 my hand this 8th day of April, A. D. 1891.

JOHN A. POTTER. Vitnesses:

W. H. CORBETT, A. C. DINKEY. 

